just get ANYKIND of pack and start training with it. you listen to all these clowns posting here, you’ll be buying only a certain kind, color and with your initials on…
take a look at MOST pro athletes. MOST come from a poor background. all the jamacia sprinters, pro football players, boxers… you think they train with the best equipment growing up?? they grab what the can, make makeshift weights and somehow make it on the top podium step.
get ANYKIND of pack and start!!![/quote]
I’m afraid these ‘clowns’ (?) have a point. I tested out my highschool-pack. Loaded a 20lbs medicine ball in it and walked for an hour. I’m 190-200lbs myself. So that’s like 10% of my weight. It was a hardening experience, very fun. But I do get their point.
Anything above 35lbs would kill my back right now. I finally understand what ppl mean with backpacking that the weight should ‘rest on your hips’. Because with my normal schoolbag the weight was pulling my back (it’s a lever) all the times.
Im going to progress as much as I can with 20-35lbs with this shitty back, and then try to get my hands on a decent bag with a frame from the Army Reserve.
Just to be clear: a ‘frame’ is the shouldstraps + hipstraps, right??[/quote]
No a frame is exactly what it sounds like, A rigid structure either internal or external to the pack which retains its shape and helps with load distribution.
Edit: See the above. Civilian hiking rigs usually have an internal frame and are somewhat more comfort oriented but I understand the Alice is cheap and readily available.
Professional athletes are paid to mess-up their body we are not so being smart pays in the long run. I ran 2 marathons and backpack weekly for years, safety is simply smart. No need to buy into the 6 weeks miracle transformation, 6 months-6 years works.
I’ve got my old big-ass highschool bag lying around here somewhere. I dont really use it anymore. I thought of loading it up with 20kg first and progress until 40kg. And then walk a x-amount of km per hour. Just for GPP.
Comments?[/quote]
That depends what is your main conditioning goal? I’m sure that there optimal ways to achieve your end result.
Best to start out light then build up the weight and distance. Just the empty backpack, go out walking and plan your route. Increase the weight over time. Decent pair of boots as well civilian hiking boots or military boots. Look after your feet. Get camel pack as well for fluids. Can sweat a lot on weighted walks/tabs so keep yourself hydrated. After a while throw in exercises like squats and lunges with the back pack on every 1/4 or 1/2 mile for example
People… Are we REALLY trying to discuss walking with a backpack and whether or not it is safe for your joints? You know, the kind of activity some of us did as 10-year old boy scouts, with a third of our bodyweight on our backs, for 20 miles a day, for weeks?
… GROW A PAIR.
I’m not saying to go out and run an Iron Man with the damn thing, but doing this for a few hours with no preparation won’t kill you, overtrain you etc. This is not a heavy squat or a base jump; it is WALKING.
[quote]nighthawkz wrote:
People… Are we REALLY trying to discuss walking with a backpack and whether or not it is safe for your joints? You know, the kind of activity some of us did as 10-year old boy scouts, with a third of our bodyweight on our backs, for 20 miles a day, for weeks?
… GROW A PAIR.
I’m not saying to go out and run an Iron Man with the damn thing, but doing this for a few hours with no preparation won’t kill you, overtrain you etc. This is not a heavy squat or a base jump; it is WALKING.[/quote]
In a sense you are 100 % right. At 25 i was jogging with 2/3 my body weight. But the fact that he is asking make it plausable he has 20 plus pounds to loose and is not the active kind. Going progressively is just a safe approach. Many start and quit within weeks so a somewhat easing in phase is to make it user friendly.
[quote]nighthawkz wrote:
People… Are we REALLY trying to discuss walking with a backpack and whether or not it is safe for your joints? You know, the kind of activity some of us did as 10-year old boy scouts, with a third of our bodyweight on our backs, for 20 miles a day, for weeks?
… GROW A PAIR.
I’m not saying to go out and run an Iron Man with the damn thing, but doing this for a few hours with no preparation won’t kill you, overtrain you etc. This is not a heavy squat or a base jump; it is WALKING.[/quote]
Also, how much weight you have to lose is not the issue unless your morbidly obese. If your cardio sucks and/or you have a weak heart, that’s different.
In a sense you are 100 % right. At 25 i was jogging with 2/3 my body weight. But the fact that he is asking make it plausable he has 20 plus pounds to loose and is not the active kind. Going progressively is just a safe approach. Many start and quit within weeks so a somewhat easing in phase is to make it user friendly.
[/quote]
OK, here’s my advice:
Don’t kill yourself.
Push yourself. Hard.
But do not kill yourself.
I’m sorry my answer does not contain percentages of 1 rep maxes for “forward stride with a backpack”, I’ll add that later.
And the fact he’s asking doesn’t mean he needs to; it simply means he is overthinking. When you ask for online advice on walking you should take a step back and question your life.
[quote]Kardash wrote:
I found a 20 buck Alice Pack, deal or no deal?[/quote]
$20 for a pack and frame is a very good deal[/quote]
Yeh a nice alice-frame and a large pack, good buy. Holly shit that thing is big btw lol. But the kidneypack on it is hell, no wonder most soldiers modify it.
[quote]nighthawkz wrote:
People… Are we REALLY trying to discuss walking with a backpack and whether or not it is safe for your joints? You know, the kind of activity some of us did as 10-year old boy scouts, with a third of our bodyweight on our backs, for 20 miles a day, for weeks?
… GROW A PAIR.
I’m not saying to go out and run an Iron Man with the damn thing, but doing this for a few hours with no preparation won’t kill you, overtrain you etc. This is not a heavy squat or a base jump; it is WALKING.[/quote]
Also, how much weight you have to lose is not the issue unless your morbidly obese. If your cardio sucks and/or you have a weak heart, that’s different.
In a sense you are 100 % right. At 25 i was jogging with 2/3 my body weight. But the fact that he is asking make it plausable he has 20 plus pounds to loose and is not the active kind. Going progressively is just a safe approach. Many start and quit within weeks so a somewhat easing in phase is to make it user friendly.
[/quote]
OK, here’s my advice:
Don’t kill yourself.
Push yourself. Hard.
But do not kill yourself.
I’m sorry my answer does not contain percentages of 1 rep maxes for “forward stride with a backpack”, I’ll add that later.
And the fact he’s asking doesn’t mean he needs to; it simply means he is overthinking. When you ask for online advice on walking you should take a step back and question your life.[/quote]
Maybe I am overthinking. But you sound like someone with no rucking experience. Load up 60 pounds in a pack and walk a few miles. Then maybe you can understand why someone would open a thread about it.
I’ve even found dozens of sources dedicated to humping. Its pure fun.
[quote]nighthawkz wrote:
People… Are we REALLY trying to discuss walking with a backpack and whether or not it is safe for your joints? You know, the kind of activity some of us did as 10-year old boy scouts, with a third of our bodyweight on our backs, for 20 miles a day, for weeks?
… GROW A PAIR.
I’m not saying to go out and run an Iron Man with the damn thing, but doing this for a few hours with no preparation won’t kill you, overtrain you etc. This is not a heavy squat or a base jump; it is WALKING.[/quote]
Erm, just because you did it in your childhood doesn’t particularly make said activity safe for your joints or physical health.
I’ll agree with the grow a pair statement, but saying that suddenly putting 60+lb onto your back, and at an uneven weight distribution at that, and then walking for several miles won’t be stressful to your knees doesn’t make sense. None of the muscles in your knee will be used to that sudden increase in weight, moreso for a long distance, and they will get annoyed. If you ignore their annoyance and push because you want to be a man, then you might make them angry.
And you do not want to make your knee muscles angry.
It’s the same reason why most people don’t suggest you go and load 150+lb onto your first squat or bench or what have you. You need to let your body get progressively stronger at whatever you’re having it do. If you get used to the weight quickly, then great. But you don’t ever see anyone starting their squat at 200lb and not expect to get injured.
[quote]Essex silverback wrote:
Best to start out light then build up the weight and distance. Just the empty backpack, go out walking and plan your route. Increase the weight over time. Decent pair of boots as well civilian hiking boots or military boots. Look after your feet. Get camel pack as well for fluids. Can sweat a lot on weighted walks/tabs so keep yourself hydrated. After a while throw in exercises like squats and lunges with the back pack on every 1/4 or 1/2 mile for example[/quote]
this ^
military boots so that you dont fck up your ankle with sneakers.
If you are decently active it’s not that hard to do a few miles with 40kg and a good backpack. in the military we used to do 100km marches with 40kg and 20km with 60kg depending on gear.
If you worry about your knees you might aswell hike in some forest trail, and carry some food with you, so you can sit down and munch when you get tired and enjoy the nature
[quote]Essex silverback wrote:
Best to start out light then build up the weight and distance. Just the empty backpack, go out walking and plan your route. Increase the weight over time. Decent pair of boots as well civilian hiking boots or military boots. Look after your feet. Get camel pack as well for fluids. Can sweat a lot on weighted walks/tabs so keep yourself hydrated. After a while throw in exercises like squats and lunges with the back pack on every 1/4 or 1/2 mile for example[/quote]
this ^
military boots so that you dont fck up your ankle with sneakers.
If you are decently active it’s not that hard to do a few miles with 40kg and a good backpack. in the military we used to do 100km marches with 40kg and 20km with 60kg depending on gear.
If you worry about your knees you might aswell hike in some forest trail, and carry some food with you, so you can sit down and munch when you get tired and enjoy the nature :)[/quote]
A 100km hump? What branch were you in?
'till I load up to 40kg, I will use my sneakers. Perhaps if I keep progressing, I might consider sum real boots!
[quote]magick wrote:
Erm, just because you did it in your childhood doesn’t particularly make said activity safe for your joints or physical health.
I’ll agree with the grow a pair statement, but saying that suddenly putting 60+lb onto your back, and at an uneven weight distribution at that, and then walking for several miles won’t be stressful to your knees doesn’t make sense. None of the muscles in your knee will be used to that sudden increase in weight, moreso for a long distance, and they will get annoyed. If you ignore their annoyance and push because you want to be a man, then you might make them angry.[/quote]
Let me put it this way: should a grown up man need more advice than “push yourself, don’t kill yourself”? Oh, he does? Have we come to a point where common sense and going by your gut are so foreign to people that they need to ask a stranger on the net if something is safe for THEM? So I load up the backpack with enough weight to make it challenging - not so much I can’t walk 40 yards without shaking. I carry that for a few miles and the next morning I’ll know if that was enough, too little or too much and I’ll adjust things. I guess what enrages me is that, on a forum where a majority of the people are all for economic self-reliance, being a “real man” etc, people try to make a science out of walking.
And yes, doing it as a kid counts as experience as far as the body is concerned. lifting close to maximum weights can easily be done in a harmful way; but things like walking, cycling, etc etc… You’d be surprised how tough the human body is.
The solution is simple: don’t get enraged. Being a grown up man you should understand that people have questions regarding walking with heavy loads strapped on their back. I for instance had the ridiculous idea of loading up 60 lbs into my old school backpack and walk. Untill someone on this forum pointed out buying a frame was a much better idea.
If “push yourself, don’t kill yourself” was all the advice needed I wonder if fora would still be useful.
Or wait, lemme get all semantic on yoo assss. Go ahead and regard this topic as a way to define the border between pushing yourself and killing/damaging yourself ; )
A fine move, sir. But I am equal to the challenge. You should not feel pain outside your lungs and muscles. And you should not push yourself to the point where you wouldn’t be able to spontaneously sprint for a few dozen yards (without the backpack). It’s all fine and dandy to watch Pumping Iron before strength training and listen to Arnold explaining intensity; but carrying a heavy backpack is WORK. Neither a construction worker nor a soldier would go to failure while they’re working; it wouldn’t be very productive.
Use water containers for weight. I like the soft 2L and 4L containers.
If you get exhausted or push yourself too hard you can just dump some or all of the water and keep going.
Stair climbing with a 45 pound pack is a killer exercise.
Coming from a boy scout who has gone on many backpacking trips, a good backpack with plenty of weight is great conditioning and good for the core/legs, pretty much the whole body. You can pick one up for $10 at a thrift store or on craigslist. I went on Philmont this summer. We went on a 80 mile trip through the mountains over 10 days. High elevation adds to the conditioning. Generally I was carrying 50 pounds. There will be very little stress on your joints if you pack correctly. Watch the downhills when you’re going though. That’s the hardest on the body. Even at 16 years old I could feel the stress
